An, Lee Jun-seok's Request for 'Campaign Committee Chair' Met with "Sitting at the Table... I Don't Want That Anymore"

An "If someone asks for help, just go and help"
"Has there ever been a transition team this stable?"
Lee "No reason to refuse the role of campaign committee chair"
"Several people will persuade"

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People Party, and Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, are listening to President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's remarks at the People Power Party's vote counting situation room set up in the National Assembly Library on the 10th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Jeong-wan] Ahn Cheol-soo, chairman of the presidential transition committee, flatly rejected the request from Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, to serve as the election campaign committee chairman for the upcoming June 1 local elections, saying he has "no intention" of doing so.

On the 6th, in an interview with 'Kang Chan-ho's Too Much Talker,' Chairman Ahn stated, "(In the past) I have done a lot of campaign committees. Sitting around a table in meetings, reading scripts to each other and sending out messages?I’m tired of that now."

Earlier, on the 2nd, Leader Lee said on MBC Radio's 'Politician Insider,' "When Chairman Ahn returns to the party after the transition committee, as party leader, I will unite the will and immediately appoint him as the campaign committee chairman. I declare this as party leader."

Chairman Ahn said, "If there are People Power Party candidates running in the local elections who ask for help, I can go and assist them," adding, "Isn't that also a way? Is it necessary to have an official position?"

He continued, "This is enough for now. The transition committee is important," emphasizing, "Although it’s a position held for about two months, I believe I am properly demonstrating my administrative capabilities. Has there ever been a more stable transition committee than this?"

In response to Chairman Ahn's refusal, Leader Lee said, "The campaign committee chairman is an honorable and practical role, so I see no reason for Chairman Ahn to refuse."

On the same day, following Chairman Ahn, Leader Lee spoke on the phone with 'Kang Chan-ho's Too Much Talker,' saying, "Many people will try to persuade him to take on the campaign committee chairman position."

Leader Lee argued, "Whether or not he takes on the campaign committee chairman role will determine how actively he participates in this local election, so naturally, there will be a significant difference in the evaluation by the public and party members."

Meanwhile, the two agreed that the merger between the People Power Party and the People Party is proceeding without major issues.

Chairman Ahn said, "I don’t know how long it will take, but the merger will happen," and Leader Lee said, "Compared to past negotiations, there are no major difficulties. Saying the discussions will conclude within this week is not an overstatement."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.